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1986 Map of Vernita Bridge

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Vernita Bridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Columbia River waters divide this mid-1980s landscape, separating the rugged topography of the Saddle Mountain range from the highly controlled industrial and ecological zones of south-central Washington. The northern portion of the map is dominated by the Wahluke Slope, featuring infrastructure for land management such as the Wahluke Slope Habitat Management Area and a network of transmission lines and storage bins. Central to the map's identity is the Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, which provides a protected buffer between the agricultural slopes and the high-security operations to the south.

Hanford Site (DOE) territory occupies a significant portion of the river's southern bank, marked by specialized infrastructure including an array of Test Wells, borrow pits, and a Sewage Disposal pond. Evidence of older transportation routes, like the Old RR Grade, contrasts with the modern engineering of the Vernita Bridge, which serves as a vital crossing point. The map illustrates a unique intersection of federal nuclear reservation land, wildlife conservation efforts, and early regional aviation indicated by a solitary Landing Strip.